quoted but refusing to complete

91highstreet

Hi I asked a builder to quote me for skimming/plastering 1large room 13x13 ( not including ceiling) and half another room 16x8 including half the ceiling, plus removing a gas fire, marble and plaster surround and hearth and making good for insertion of a woodburner quoted £1250 a high price but he said it would be done in 2 days and within two weeks so I opted to use him.
He has plastered the rooms and removed the fire and surround but says to make good the whole for the woodburner means chopping out the brick and removing/replacing the lintel and its a lot of work..... I believe I have paid for this in the quote
Essentially approx 800 for the plastering and 425 for the fireplace
Does this seem reasonable ?
It has also taken him a month and fireplace is not complete.

parking_question_chap

Do you mean hole for the woodburner?

And you need to confirm what was agreed, not believe what was agreed. Otherwise we cant really help.

91highstreet

Hi thank you
Yes hole for the woodburner that is what I asked him to do and what he quoted for but he has just left the small fireplace hole saying that it would be s lot of work to chop out the bricks and move the lintel
I was quoted 600 pounds by another man for the plastering and so at 800 pounds leaves 425 over which this man wants for removing a mantelpiece a marble back and hearth and gas fire ( quoted on other sites as approx 100 pounds ) I feel I am being taken for a ride but don't know what to do essentially I can pay him but have now to get another builder in to widen the hole and make good and s gas man to check the fire as he has simply turned off the gas at an isolator switch and cut the pipe

Furts

If he is a plasterer and engaged to plaster it is unreasonable to expect him to start knocking around brickwork and building in a lintel. Equally concerning is the concept of the woodburner. Installation and safety come in here. Proximity of plaster, walls and heat, flue integrity and room ventilation and so on. If you have the woodburner there with all manufacturers instructions, and are paying for these to be read and meticulously followed, then perhaps someone will do it. But think of it like this - would you take on responsibility for the safe installation here?

91highstreet

He was hired to essentially remove the fireplace and make good the hole for a woodburner , not to install the woodburner I essentially wanted the fireplace out and a hole creating and plastering the space to accommodate a woodburner at a later date plus check the chimney with a smoke bomb
The plastering was secondary and he quoted 1250 for both jobsskimming 1.5 rooms and sorting the fireplace, said it could be done in 2 days and would be done within 2 weeks
Then he said he would need to plasterboard the two walls in one room (that's the half a room) after saying he could unibond and skim it he has charged £200 pounds more i,e cost now 1450
I feel that 1000 pounds to skim 1.5 rooms leaves 450 to sort the fireplace out, ( simply removing the mantelpiece and surround would have cost approx. £75 and could have been done by a handyman) and I would not be needing a builder
I received a quote of £520 for the plastering earlier in the year but as this guy could do both quickly and within two weeks I opted for the higher price as it was more convenient and less disruption, but it has taken him 3 weeks and he has not completed the fire aperture
searching on google has suggested 500 for the large room skimmed 300 for the half room removal of fireplace 75-100 pounds so I think I am being taken for a ride somewhat, I am happy to pay the 1450 but want the fireplace completed

91highstreet

He is a builder and I intend to have a woodburner installed by a proper installation agency at a later date, does that make sense now
Thank you for your replies by the way

Doozergirl

Do you have a written quote?

91highstreet

He sent me a txt saying 1250 for plastering and removal of the fireplace

teneighty

91highstreet wrote: »

He sent me a txt saying 1250 for plastering and removal of the fireplace

"What we have here is a failure to communicate" (Cool Hand Luke)

If you accept a quote in the form of a text message is it any wonder that now there is a difference of opinion over what was included?

Did "removal of the fireplace" include the mantle shelf and surround? You no doubt would say yes but the builder will probably say no. Stalemate.

HHarry

I'd have to say that 'removing the fireplace' and 'enlarging the fireplace opening' are very different jobs. The Builders text only mentions removing the fireplace and it sounds like he's done that.

Did you have any conversation about how big the wood burner was going to be, and what size opening you needed?